Abstract/Description

A high-level group of independent experts
especially...

Notes

A high-level group of independent experts
especially commissioned by EU President Romano Prodi to look into
the EU's economic performance in terms of stability, cohesion and
growth, has recommended amongst other things a reduction in CAP
expenditures to one-tenth of current levels. This recommendation
was supported by four observations:
the size and cumbersome nature of the CAP
budget has made the development of other activities difficult,
without reining in agricultural expenditures;
the CAP is now more about distributing resources
to a specific group rather than an allocative policy promoting
efficiency and production;
enlargement will make a single policy less
and less appropriate;
the current CAP is incompatible with the
Lisbon goals of ensuring value for money, growth and convergence
in EU economies.
A spokesperson for President Prodi made it clear
that the views expressed were those of independent experts and did
not represent an official opinion. Commission officials have also
distanced themselves from the report's finding in the agricultural
sphere.
Comment:
Given the radical nature of the recommendations from the independent
group of experts it should come as no surprise that the Commission
has distanced itself from the recommendations on agriculture. However,
the recommendations are indicative of the growing impatience with
the CAP and will strengthen the hand of the Commission in pushing
through its current set of reform proposals.